Cigarette-case.



H. D. HOUGH. CIGARETTE CASE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. 1917.

Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

vmaR/s PETERS m. wwmunm, WASHING/0N. n c.

HERBERT DOB-RANGE H OUGH, OF CRANSTON,

RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T WIGHTMAN & HOlTGrI-I COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

CIGARETTE-CASE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, HERBERT D. HoUGH, a

' citizen of the United States, and resident of inGigarette-Cases, of which the followingis 7 the parts of a specification.

This invention relates to cases of the type more particularly adapted for carrying cigarettes, but which may be used for carrying any other article for which it may be adapted, and is an improvement on my Patent No. 1170067. dated February 1, 1916.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved form of spring for operating the casing and one which will both close and centralize the holder member, and also move the lids to open position, which spring is provided with a body portion that lies longitudinally of and within the hinge concealed from view.

A further object of the invention is to provide a longitudinally slotted or tubular pintie for theliinge joint through which the body portions of the'operating springs pass.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be mor fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim. i

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1- is an edge view of the casing in open position partly in section illustrating 1 the effect of the spring action at the joint.

Fig. is a greatly enlarged side elevation showing a portion of the casing partly in section, and the hinge joint in section to illustrate the action of the operating springs.

Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged end view sectioned through the lids and hinge loops on line 33 of Fig. 2 illustrating the position 011 and effect of the action of the torsional springs on the lids and holder.

Fig. 4- is a perspective view showing one of the holder supporting standards which is bent in a loop to engage the hinge pin and whichis provided with an opening through which the end of its operating spring may extend.

Fig. 5- is a perspective view showing a tubular form of hinge pintle in which the body portion of the torsion springs lie, the middle portion of the tube being broken away.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, il'dil Application filed July 10, 1917. Serial No. 179,669.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a por-tionpf a hinge pintle which is a solid pin provided with a longitudinal groove to re ceive the body portions of the longitudinally disposed springs.

Referring to the drawings, 10 and 11 designate the two lids of the casing, which are preferably formed concave and are hinged together at 12 by the passing of a pintle 13 through alternate eyes 3i and 35 connected to the opposite lids.

It is found in practice desirable to provide a holder 16 in cases of this character in which the cigarettes 17 are positioned, which holder is designed to be held in central position when the case is open, so as to present the contents in the most convenient position to be easily removed and also to facilitate the loading of the holder when empty.

In the construction of this holder I have formed two side members 18 and 19 which are oppositely fluted to receive and support the cigarettes individually. The bottom portion of each side member is turned sharply inward asat 20 and 21, see Fig. 3, and two standards 14L and 15 are constructed of strips of metal formed integral with the bottom of each holder member, the lower end of each standard. being bent into a loop form as at 22, see Fig. 4;, to inclose the pintle 13 thereby hinging these two halves of the holder on the same hinge with that of the lids.

The feature of my present invention is the provision of two torsional springs 23 and 24. the body portion of each being mounted to lie longitudinally within the hinge at opposite ends thereof. one end 25 of spring 23 extending upward through the opening 26 in the tubular pintle and through the notched-out opening 27 in the standard 15, to press against the side of the standard and so raise its portion of the holder toward central position.

In order to place the necessary torsion or twist in this spring wire I extend the opposite or outer end thereof beyond the edge of the lids, bend the same off at a right angle and then twist the body of the wire until sufficient torsion has been placed in the wire, after which the end is bent around the edge 28 of the joint at substantially a right angle to the axis of the body thereof, and severed leaving an inwardly turned end 29 to act against the lid 10 to move it to open position.

The spring 24 near the opposite end of the lid, is similarly operated, its end 30' being turned up to engage the opposite side of the standard 14 and its end 31, after receiving the necessary twist, is turned off at an angle to engage and press open the lid 11.

These tWo springs act oppositely 0n the holder members to move them toward each other and, therefore, these springs performthree functions; first, to move the lids to open position; second, to close the members of the holder; and third,- to move and support the holdertocentra'l position.

In some Cases it is found advisable to employ a pintle of tubular form through Which the longitudinally disposed bodies of the springs pass and to provide slots 26 and 32 through which the ends of the opposite springs may extend to act upon their resp'ekrtive standards, but I do not wish to be restricted to the use of this particular form of pintle as one having a longitudinal groove 33 therein may be employed in place of the tubular p 'intle' throhgh v'vhich groove may pass the longitudinally disposed bodies of the springs 23 and 24.

My irnprex'ied form of spring Which lies almost entirely concealed \vithin th'e joint,

provides an extremely neat and effective use for other articles Where it is desired to support the holder in a central position when the lids of the case are inopen p0sition such as for example vanity cases, card casesand the like.

The foregoing description is directed solely toward the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claim.

I claim:

A cigarette case of the character described comprising a pair of lids provided with coinplemental hinge" eyes, a holder formed of tWo' side members earn-liming compleinental hinge eyes, a -pintle passed through the hinge eyes of the lidaird the holder members, torsional spring Wires each havinga longitudinally disposed body' car ried by the hinge pintle andends 0- :et; at an angle to the axis of the body, oneoitset end of each spring acting on aho'l der1nember to move it to closed centralized position. the other offset end of each spring bearing against a portion of the lid 'on the corresponding sideof the case and acting to move the lid to open position, tl'iehinge' eyes of the lids and'hoider members fornfiing' a continuous cover tor the hinge pintl whereby the springs are concealed When the l-ids are closed. p In testimony whereof I affix my signatiire in presenceof a Witness. y

HERBERT DORRANCE ROUGH. Witness:

HOWARD E. 'BARLoiv.

co' ies o'tthis patbnt'nay'te ebtziined'ror five cents each, ty warming the Maximise-inher ts new,

Washington, D. G. i 

